Using images from the internet on a game okay?

What do people think about using copyrighted imagery to develop prototypes? Is it okay for just playtesting? Would you present the prototype to a manufacturer or would you clean it up by removing the copyrighted images?

I agree with all that has been said here. Also, most importantly to your answer, SiskNY. You certainly could use these pictures as a comp/prototype. This is actually what I did for my AoM redo that I've posted links to on this forum. www.michaeldoyle.com/AoM.html. Each card for instance had 6-10 images collaged on them. All the online stock photo agencies count on designers to download their images for comp purposes. If the client buys off on the concept and images, then the designer purchases the rights to them (charging the client). If I were to do this AoM game for real, I might use what I did as the basis for a real artist to recreate. The same would be true for you. If the publisher liked the art, then they would either purchase it or use it as reference to be recreated in some fashion by an artist.

Hope this helps.

mike

As a graphic designer, I can tell you that you can download images from stock photo agencies for use in comps to sell the client on the purchase of photos/film, etc. This is how they make their money. I copied legal from Getty Images – the largest stock photo agency in the world – below. As you can see, it specifally grant one time useage for comps with the understanding that if the client likes, they will buy.

GRANT OF LICENSE
There are low-resolution comping images, film clips, fonts, clip art items, animation clips or audio clips, (the "Low-Resolution Digital Media") available to aid in customers' purchase decisions. Licensor grants to Licensee, a non-exclusive, non-sublicensable right to use any Low-Resolution Digital Media obtained from Licensor on your personal or business computer. The Low-Resolution Digital Media may not be shared by creating a disc library, storage jukebox, network configuration or similar arrangement and you may not create a network of servers, either with or without a central location, which enables others to share the Low-Resolution Digital Media. All rights not specifically granted above are retained by Licensor(s). One copy of the Low-Resolution Digital Media may be made for backup purposes only, but may be used only if the original Low-Resolution Digital Media becomes defective, or is destroyed or otherwise irretrievably lost. Except as specifically provided in this license agreement, no Low-Resolution Digital Media may be shared or copied. The Low-Resolution Digital Media may be used in materials for PERSONAL, NONCOMMERCIAL use and TEST or SAMPLE use, including COMPS and LAYOUTS. The Low-Resolution Digital Media may not be used in any final materials distributed inside of your company or any materials distributed outside of your company or to the public, including but not limited to, advertising and marketing materials or any online, broadcast or other electronic distribution system (except that you may transmit comps digitally or electronically to your clients for their review) and may not be distributed, sublicensed or made available for use or distribution separately or individually and no rights may be granted to the Low-Resolution Digital Media

Basically, what you're talking about is photo manipulation. We do this all the time in the industry. I'm afraid you need to buy all the images used in such a piece. I remember a junior designer just a month ago had to do an ad and picked about 50 faces from Getty that were photo collaged to form one image. Yes, we had to pay for them and when we inquired it turned out to cost $300,000! No kidding. The client loved the ad though, so the designer went back and did a new search for royalty free images. It then cost around $20k for that ad with 50 or so images. Two things to note: click the royalty free button and you'll get vastly cheaper images, $100-200 usually. Secondly, if you call to inquire, you better bet Getty will be aware of you and checking on you and your work. They're pretty good about that. All this said, if you take pieces of images and manipulate them beyond any recognition from the source, it is a matter of someone catching you in the deed. I'm not recommending this, it's still illegal, I think (don't know for sure), and it would then probably be a matter of someone reconizing a particular piece and calling you on that one.

cool. I didn't know about this one. I'll check it out, thanks.